Banjo



No Model.)

G. A. WASHBURN.

BANJO.

No. 316,508. Patented Apr. 28, 1885.

InvenZ'Wi P:TERs Phamukho np UNITED STATES 1 PATENT O FIC 1 G. ARTHURWASHBURN, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN C. HAYNES & CO.,OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BANJO.

5PECIEIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,508, dated April28, 1885.

Application filed May 12, 1884. (No model.) I

To all 2071,0122, it may concern:

- useful Improvement in Banjos, of which the following is a descriptionsufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in theart or science to which said invention appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of asection of the body of my improved banjo Fig. 2, aside elevation of oneof the brackets represented as in use, a portion of the body being showninthe same figure in transverse section; and Fig. 3, averticallongitudinal section of one of the brackets and a transverse section ofa por tion of the body.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures of the drawings.

My invention relates more especially to the brackets and means forstraining the head of the banjo or rendering it taut; and it consists ina novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter morefully set forth and claimed, by which a more desirable and effectivedevice of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understoodby all con versant with such matters from the following explanation, itsextreme simplicity rendering an elaborate description unnecessary.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the banjo; B, the head; C, thetop hoop, and D the {head-band or straining-wire, to which the head isattached, all of these parts being of the ordinary construction and notbroadly claimed herein.

A series of brackets, E, are disposed at regular intervals around thebody A,being secured in position thereon by the screws on. The form andspecific construction of these brackets are best seen in Fig. 3, inwhich E represents the body of the bracket, and ac a hollow interiorlythreaded stud projecting from its rear side.

The body is provided with a vertically-arranged hole, 2, for receivingthe threaded straining wire or rod N, and with a downwardly-projectingguard, J, for covering the lower end of the rod.

A transverse slot, i, is formed in the center of the body E, anddisposed therein is a nut, K, threaded to fit the rod N, which isprovided at its upper end with a hook, o, for engaging the top hoop, C.

A hole, f, is formed in a proper position in the body A for receivingthe stud x of the bracket, and also the screw m, by which the bracket issecured to the body, the screw being passed from the interior of thebody through the hole and turned into the hole in the stud, its headresting on a washer, Z, when in position.

The stud may be omitted and ascrew passed through the hole f andinserted directly in the body of the bracket, if desired, although Ideem it preferable to use the stud, as it enables the bracket to besecured with much greater firmness than is possible where it is notemployed.

In brackets of this character as ordinarily constructed no stud is used,and the nut for putting a strain on the rod N is placed on the lower endof said rod, leaving the end of the rod in some instances exposed, thenut being always liable to work loose or come off.

In my improved bracket the nut, being dis posed in the slot 2', cannever work loose and escape from the rod, and, as it is slightly less indiameter than the immediately-surrounding parts of the body E, is notliable to be accidentally turned to change the strain 011 the rod.

By the use of the fixed guard J for covering the lower end of the rod Nthe bracket is rendered more ornamental, and the general appearance ofthe instrument very much improved.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a banjo, thebracket E, provided with the guard J, for housing or concealing thelower end of the rod N, substantially as specified.

2. In a, banjo, the'b'racket E, provided with guard in whichthethreadedend of the strainthe slot i, and having the guard J, inoombiing-rod is housed, and a nut, interposed be- 20 nation with the nutK and threaded rod N, provided with the hook o, substantially asspecified.

8. In a banj o, the bracket E, having the slot z, a threaded stud, x,and guard J, in conubination with the nut K and threaded rod N, havingthe hook v, substantially as set forth.

4. In a banjo, the combination of the following instrumentalities, towit: the bodyA, provided with hole f, the head B, provided with the wireD, the threaded rod N provided with the hook v, the bracket E, providedwith the slot 2', guard J, and stud m, the nut K, and screw m,constructed, combined, and arranged to operate substantially asspecified.

5. In a banjo, a bracket provided with a tween said guard and theunhoused end of said rod, said not being adapted to exert a strain onthe rod, substantially as set forth.

6. In a banjo, a bracket having a guard in which thelower end of thestraining-rod is 25 housed, and a slot through which the straining-rodpasses, in combination with a nut disposed on said rod within the slot,said nut being less in diameter than the surrounding or adjacent partsof the bracket,whereby the nut 0 .is prevented from being accidentallyturned on the rod, substantially as specified.

G. ARTHUR IVASHBUR-N. Witnesses:

F. E. BASSETI, O. A. Blissnr'r. f

